Circuit-breaker.



No. 832,705. PATENTBD OCT. 9, 1906. S. B. STEWART, JR.

\ CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED mn.2o,19o5.

s smmssnnm 1 64- Witnesses Inventor 4557 46 flmzz Samuel BStgwart, Jr.

- Atria No. 832,705. PATENTS-ID OCT. 9. 1906.

S. B. STEWART, J11.

CIRCUIT BREAKER. APPLICATION rum) MAR.20,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses lnvsntor f E Samue! BStewarLJr.

B v WW No. 832,705. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906. I

S B STEWART, JR CIRCUIT BREAKER. APPLICATION nun MAR, 20, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3v r. w m Wm; mam

L W nB d Witnesses ,Ky KM 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'SAMU EL'B. STEWART, JR.,-F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO "GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1 Application in! man 20,1906. s mi No. 250,895.

Patented Oct. 9, 190a.

To all icltom it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. STEWART,

" J12, a citizen of the United States, residing in able contacts. Fig. 3is a plan of the breaker.

cordance with the present invention.

Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful .lm rovements in Circuit- Breakers, of which t efollowing is a specification.

Thepresent invention relates generally to circuit-breakers, and moreparticularly to that type of circuit-breaker employed in street-railwaywork, Where the breaker is of large capacity and is located at a pointdis tant from the motorman, usually on the bottom of the car-body, andis controlled .by. the

manipulation of control switches located within reach of the motorman.

Obviously the invention is not limited to street-railway equipments, butmay be used inother relations where it is desired to controlthcopcration of the breaker from a distant point.

The present invention comprises a novel arrangement of parts by whichthe breaker is rendered mechanically .rigid and compact is a sectionalelevation of the same, the section being taken on a center line'throughthe actuatingecoil and in the plane of the mov- Fig. 4 is an endelevation of the breaker, showing particularly the blow-out coil and athe deflecting arc'chute. 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating themovable contacts in lan, this section being taken on the line 5 5 ofi'g. 2; and Fig. 6 is a diagram of the breaker and its electricalconnections.

Re'ferring in detail to; the drawings, 10-

designates the main supportin frame or skeleton of the breaker, comprsing metal heads 11 12., held together by retaining-bolts 1'3 andinclosingthe actuating-coil or solen- Fig. 2'

oid 14 of the breaker. The frame l0 also comprises two substantiallyparallel metal walls 15, which extend downwardly from the lower head 12and inclose the greater portionof the moving contacts of the breaker andtheir holding and tripping-mechanism. The L actuating-coil 14, w 10b issecurely held in place between the heads 1 1 and 12,is provided with afixed core 16 and a cooperatin mov-' able core 17, which extends down trou h an aperture in thelower head 12 of t e frame 10 and is pivotallysecured at 18 to the contact-arm 19, which in turn is pivotallysupported at one end b the pivot 20, whic extends through the wa ls 15of the frame 10.

The free end of the arm 19 is rovided with a brush-contact 21 and anauxi iary shunt-eontact 22, which are ada ted to cooperate with a fixedcontact 23.' T e arm 19 and its conitacts normally tend to 0 en inresponse to their own weight assisted y the coiled spring 24, whichbears against the upper face of the arm 19 and the lower face of thehead 12 off the supporting-frame. Cooperating with the contact-arm 19 isan auxiliary contact-arm 25, which is also connected at an intermediatepoint to the movable core 17 of the solenoid y the pivot 18.

The free end of the auxiliary contact-arm 25 is provided with aremovable contact 26., which cooperates with a carbon contact-.-

block 27 in making and breaking the circuit- -eontrolled by the breaker.

tacts 23 and 27 are mounted upon a conduct: ing-block 28, locatedbetween the side Walls 29 of an arc deflecting-chute which extendslaterall from the supporting-frame 10..

This 0 ute also com rises the obli ue1' arranged walls 30 an the upperwal 31. These walls of the arc chute, together with the contact-block28, are connected to an in sulating-plate 32 which is secured. at its 0osite ends to the heads-11 and 12 oft e ame 10 and partially inclosesthe actuatingcoil'14i The walls of this chute, together with thesupporting-wall 32, are preferably composed 0 indurated fiber, althoughit is obvious that other suitable insulating material might equally wellbe employed. A

dovetailed groove is formed in the contactblock 28 by the addition of aplate 33, and in i j this groove one end'ofthe contact 23 and thegreater portion of the carbon contact-block As clearly shown in Fig. 4,the contactblock 28-is' provided with an outwardly-extending flange 34,which is electrically connected to the blow-out coil 35, which abutsagainst this flange at one end and at the 10 other end against a flange36 of one of the terminals 37 of the circuit-breaker. Allof these artsare compactly arranged between the si' e walls 29 of the arc chute. Aniron .boltw38, constituting the magnet-core, ex-' 5 tends throughthecenter Qfrthe blow-out coil 35.and is secured at its o posite ends topolepieces 39, which .take t e form of substantially rectangular plates,which extend downward .from the outside of. the walls 29 of .thearc-chute, so as to embrace the breakoints .of the breaker. Inconnectingthe I reaker incircuit a lead is passed througha suitableop'ening 40inione of the walls 29 of the arcchute and clamped in firm engaementwith the terminal 37 by turning up :t e screwsetl. The circuit fromthis point 'is completed to the fixed contacts 23 and 27 by .way of theflange 36, blow-outcoil 35, flange 34 ,andcontact-block 28.

Y'Ilheoperation of the breaker zis such that movedinto and outofengagement in a definite order, thecontacts 26 and 27 breaking thecircuit atter the contacts 22 and 23'and making .the circuit prior tosaid contacts; while ;the contacts 22 and'23 break the one cuitsubsequent to the contacts 21 and 23 and make the same prior thereto."This is v v brought about by-means ,of :the pivotal ar- 40 rangement ofthe contact-arms 19 and 25, as heretofore described, and by theintermediate member .42, which is connected at an intermediate point tothe movable ;core 117 .byQ-the pivot 18 and at its end adjacent theWot-2040 the side walls 15 of the-supporting.- rame by va pivot 43. Thepivot extends through openings 44 in the contact-arm 19,whicharaelongated, so that this interfere with the 'movement 0? I Theopposite end ofthe intermediate mem-' ber 4,2 yieldin lyzengages theauxiliarycontact-arm 2.5, :t e yie. dingengagement being obtained,byacoi ed .s ring .45. The end of the auxiliary arm 25 a jacent to thepivot 20 is.electrically. connected by; a flexible conductor-stri 4,6;toaportion ofthe metal frame 10 cf .the' reakeras, for example, the -head112+'the connection between the strip and thezheadi hi case being pr vidd b pass strip. The same end of the auxiliary cont'actsarm 25.ex tendsunder the contact-arm 1'9, soas to engagethe same.

From the above it will be seen that the pivots 20 and 43 .are fixedrelatively to the the main and auxili ry contacts will be n will not thearm.

ingoneofithe bolts 13.t.h1ough:tl 1e en of-the supporting-frame of thebreaker, while the' pivot 18 moves with .the movable core 17, and thatthe pivot 18 is nearer the pivot 43 than the pivot 20. As a result ofthis arrangementwhenthe core 17 is drawn upward to close thebreaker themovement of the outer end of the arm 19 is much slower than the movementof the outer end of the ,auxils iary arm 25, because of the differencein leverage. Consequently the contact 26 moves through a greaterdistance than the contacts 21 and 22 and by reason of the relativearrangement engages its fixed contact member sooner When the .breaker istripped and the movable contacts are allowed to drop, theauxiliarycontact-arm is prevented from dropping until after the contacts21 and 22 have assed some distance from the contact '23. his isaccomplished through the agency of the coiled spring 45. i Whenthebreaker is once closed through .the ,energization of the coil 14, it isheld in closed position by a toggle comprising the links 47 48, actingbetween the contact-arm 19 and a fixed pivot. 49, which-extends .be-'

This toggle is not overset when hol ing the circuit-breaker closed, :butis held from collapsing by meansof a pivot-latch 50, which engages awear-plate 51 onan overhan ing ortion 52 of the'link 47 of the toggle.:his atch 50 is, in fact, a .lever mounted uponthe pivot 49. The free nd.oithis' lever extends into. the path of movementof an armatur of anoverload trip coil 54, also located between the Walls 15 of the frame-.of the breaker. This trip-coil is mechanically I and electricallyconnected at its upper end to a conducting plate 55,whi ch is firmlysecured to one of thewalls 1-5 of the-frame; The opposite'end of thecoil 54 is insulated from the frame 10 and electrically connected t'oaterthe walls 15, to which it is mechanicallycm nected by asuitableinterposed block of insulation 57. Thus the circuit from the terminal37, adjacent tot-he blow- -out coil 35, to the terminal 56 isxcompleted' through the blow-out 011 to .the fixed contacts ,of thebreaker, as previously indicated, thence breaker. The tensionespring 74,attached to the armature 53, is providedwith a calibratingeserew-58 bywhich the breaker may be set .to operate automatically upon theoccurtween the walls 15 of the supportin -frame.

minal- 56, which extends out ,-beyond one of through the movablecontacts ,to the frame rence of different predetermined currentstrengths. v H

Ad acent to the overload coil 54 and mounted upon the samesupporting-plate 55, but insulated therefrom, is a coil 59,which may beincluded in any.dcsired controlcircuit. Cooperating with this coil is anarmature 60. The armature 53 of the coil 54 and the armature 60 arepivoted at the adjacent points-61. 62 and are provided with overlappingends which are arranged so that they will engage each other when thearmature 60 is actuated. In this way it is possible by energizing thecoil 59 to draw the adjacent end of the armature 60 upward, and therebyforce the nonadjacent end of the armature 53 upward, so as to trip thelatch and open the breaker. On the side of the circuit-breaker frameopposite the arc chute is a frame 63, mounted upon an insulating-plate64, located directly opposite the insulating-plate 32and similarlysecured between the metal heads '1 1 and 12 of the frame of the breaker.This frame 63 carries insulated resistance-coils provided with ad justing-clips 66, by which the amount of'resistance in circuit may bevaried.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 6, the main circuit is shownextending from a supply-wire 67, through the blow-out coil 35, to. thefixed contact 23 of the breaker, thence through the movable contact-arm19, overload-coil 54, and. a motor 68, to ground at 69. A separatecontrol-circuit for the actuatingcoil 1.4 is also shown extendingbetween the supply-wire 6. through a control-switch 70 and the coil 14,to ground at 71. A similar control-circuit for the tripcoil "59 is alsoshown. This coil extends from the same supply-wire 67, through 'a secondcontrol-switch 72, to coil 59 and the resistance 65,to ground at 73.From this it will be seen, as previously indicated, the breaker whenonce closed will be tripped upon overload through the action ofthe coil54 upon the trip mechanism of the breaker. When once tripped, thebreaker may be closed by closing the control-switch 70, and when thecore 17 is drawn up the circuit-breaker will be automatically set andretained in thisposition until again tripped by the overload or by theauxiliary trip-coil 59 The latter is controlled by the manual switch 72.4

From the above descri tion it will be apparent that I have provi ed avery compactand efficient structure. It will also be a parent that manyof the details are capabIe of use in other connections and certainmodifications and alterations may be made in the .matter disclosedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the specific disclosure, but aim tocover by the terms of the a pended claims all such modifications and aterations.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a main fixed contact, of amain movable contact engaging therewith,a fixed pivot for said movablecontact, an auxiliary movable contact engaging with another fixedcontact, a fixed pivot for said auxiliary contact, said pivots being atdifierent distances from the,

main fixed contact, and a reciprocating actuating member connected tosaid movable 'contacts whereby said movable contacts engage anddlsengage said fixed contacts 1n se- 2. In a circuit-breaker, thecombination with a main fixed contact, of a main movable contactengaging therewith, a fixed pivot for said movable contact, anauxiliarymovable contact engaging with another fixed contact, a fixed pivot forsaid auxiliary contact, said pivots ,b ing at different distances fromthe main fixed. contact, an actuating member connected to said mainmovable contact, and a yielding connection between said movablecontacts, whereby the said movable contacts engage and disengage saidfixed contacts inv sequence.

3. In an electromagnetically-actuated circuit-breaker, the combinationwith a main fixed contact, of a main movable contact engaging therewith,a fixed pivot for said movable contact, an' auxiliary movable contactengaging with another fixed contact, a fixed ivot for said auxiliarycontact, said pivots eing at different distances from the main fixedcontact, a reciprocating actuating member connected to said movablecontacts, and,

actuating member connected to sai movable,

contacts at different distances from the pivots thereof.

5. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a main fixed contact, of amain movable contact engaging therewith, a fixed pivot for said movablecontact, an auxiliary movable contact engaging with another fixedcontact,

a fixed pivot for said auxiliary contact, an actuating member connectedto said main movable contact, and a yielding connection between saidcontacts, the pivot of the main contact being at a different distancefrom the yielding connection than the pivot of the auxiliary contact.

6. In a circuit-breaker, the combinatzon with a main fixed contact, ofmain DIOR/2nd? rig adapted to engage one of said fixe contacts,

- 7; In a circuit-brea contact engagingtherewith, a fixed pivot for saidmova le contact, an auxiliary movable contact engaging with-smotherfixed .contact,

. a reciprocatory member connected tosaid movable contact, an auxiliarymovable contact pivoted to said reciprocatory member and adapted toengage another of'said fixed contacts, and an intermediate memberpivoted to said support and to said rec1proca tory member an adapted totransmit movement to said. auxiliary movable contact whereby saidmovable contacts will engage.

and disengage their fixed contacts in se% quence. v

8. An electric circuit-breaker com rising a support, fixed contactscarried there y, 'main and auxiliary contacts, pivots for saidcontactscarriedby said support, and an actuating member secured to saidmovablecontacts at une ual distances from their pivots whereby saimovable contacts engage and disengage theinfixed contacts in sequence.

9. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a, supporting metalframe,.of'a.-fixed contact extending from-and insulated from said frame,a cooperating movable contact, operating mechanism therefor carried bysaid frame, and an electromagnetfor blowing out the are formed betweenthe contacts.

, having its coil supported by and in circuit I mechanism for sa1dmovable contact carrie with said fixed contact.

10'. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a supporting metalframe, of a fixed contact exten frame,.a eooperating'movable contactelectrically connected to said frame, operatin by said frame, aterminal-insulated from said frame and in circuit with said fixedcontact,

and a second terminalelectrically connected to said frame. I

1 1. I In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a supporting metalframe, of a fixed con-.

tact extending laterally from and insulatedfrom said frame, a 006crating laterally ex tending cont'actinovab e vertically into and.

out of 'enga ement'withsaid fixed contact and electrica ly connected tosaid frame, oper-' 'ating mechanism" therefor carried by said frame, aterminal insulated from said frameand in circuit with said fixedcontact, and "a said actuating member,

ing means carried by said frame and located for said mova I within thespace formed'between said walls. mg from :and nsulated from said;

lower en second terminal electrically connected frame.

* -12. In an electric circuit-breaker,-the combination with a supportingmetal frame, of a fixed contact supported by and insulated from saidframe, a cooperatlng movable con-" tact electrically connected to saidframe, o'pcrating mechanism therefor carried by said frame, a terminalinsulated from said frame and in circuit with said fixed contact,' atrip-.

coil for said 0 crating mechanism having one 13. In a()ll'QllltrblGfldiGl, .thecombinationend electrica y connected to saidframe, and a second termmal connected to the opposite end of saidtrip-coil.

with a supporting-frame, of a fixed contact, a laterally-extendingvertically-movable .con-

I tact adapted to engage said fixed contact, a vertically-movablactuating member se-' cured to said movable contact and extendingupward; therefrom,

and holding and tripelow. said movable contact.

14. Ina circuit-breaker, the combination with a 'supporting-framqof afixed contact secured to one side of said frame, a cooperating means forreciprocating laterally-extending vertically-moving contact, anactuating member secured to said movable contact and extending upwardlytherefrom, holding and trippin means carried by said frame and locatemovablecontact, a blow-out magnet located above said fixed contactandhaving its poles embracin the break-point of the switch-contacts, anan arc chute secured to the side of said frame and opening outwardtherefrom.

, below said 15. In a circult-breaker, the combination with'asupporting-frame comprising parallel walls, of an actuating mem erprojecting downward into the space between said walls,

a laterally-extending movable contact secured to said actuatin member, afixed eontact with which sai movable contact is adapted to engage, andcontrol mechanism le contact located below it 16. In a circuit-breaker,the combination walls, of an actuating mem er pro'ecting with asupporting-frame comprising parallel I I r515 downwardintothe spacebetween sai walls,

said walls, a blow-out magnet, and anarc chute-embracing the fixedcontactand eom prising side-walls arra ed in substantial alinement withthe wallso said frame.v

1,7. Ina circuit-breaker, thev combination "of -a pair ofelectromagnetsfla spring-restrained tripping-armature actuated by onemagnet, and a second armature actuated by the other magnet to move thefirst armature against the pull of'its spring.

18. In a circuit-breaker, the combination of a pair of electromagnets,-two interrelated armatures therefor, and a spring secured to one ofsaid armatures and o erative to hold both armatures away from t e1rcoilsi 19. In a circuit-breaker, the combination,

of a pair of electromagnets, two adjacentlypivoted armatures thereforha'ving engaging overlapping ends, and a springsecured to one of saidarmatures and operative to hold both armatures away from their coils.

20. An electric circuit-breaker comprising cooperating fixed and movablecontacts biased toopen when closed, means for hold-- ing the" contactsclosed, and tri ping means therefor comprising a pair, of inependentlycontrolled eleetromagnets, a spring-returned armature actuatedby one of said ma nets to trip said holding means and a secon armatu-reactuated by the other magnet to move the first armature into trilppingposition.

21. An electric circuitreaker comprising therefor comprisin cooperatingfixed and movable contacts biased to open when closed, means for bolding said contacts closed, and tripping means an electromagnet includedin circuit wit 1 said contacts, an armature actuated by said magnet totrip said holding means, a second electromagnet, and an armaturetherefor operative when actu ated by its magnet to move the firstarmature into tripping position.-

'22. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a. supporting-frame, ofan electric actuating-coil located in the upper portion'of said

